A CRICKET chief has launched a passionate defence of the community stadium and sports village scheme ahead of a crunch meeting on Monday night.

Wycombe District Council's Cabinet will meet to review its involvement in the proposed development at Wycombe Air Park in Booker, Great Marlow.

It will consider the strategic business case and look at the principle of protection of the Green Belt.

Geoff Morgan, is Chairman of High Wycombe Cricket Club and part of the Wycombe Sports Village Group.

He said: “I believe from Wycombe's point of view, for the community, it will be a massive opportunity lost if it doesn't go ahead.

“I believe the sports village, which will be iconic, will attract massive investment I believe.”

He said bodies like the English Cricket Board could be attracted to become part of the scheme.

He said it could be a “centre for excellence” and it would be something for the district to “be proud of”.

Mr Morgan cited a similar project in Guildford, Surrey.

He said the indoor cricket facilities would be far superior than anything in the area, with the nearest equivalent being in Middlesex and Warwickshire.

He said young talent could be cultivated by top class cricket coaches, and the same could happen for other sports like badminton and hockey.

“This is something so unique, I can't understand why people aren't picking up on it , maybe the message hasn't gone out.

“I'd gladly sit and talk to anyone about it, I'm talking as a passionate individual with nothing financial to gain.”

He believes the benefit to the various sports which would be catered for has not been conveyed effectively.

“We've got to move forward as a town,” he added.